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Key Terms

Intervention 

A specific method of treatment designed to reduce symptoms of targeted mental disorders(1, 20). 

Example: the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in the treatment of Self-harm(1)

Social Media (smartphone use)

The use of smartphones for social purposes such as messaging others, using social platforms and online shopping. The amount of time spent engaging in these social networks differs from one adolescent to another (10)

Predictors of suicide

A feature shown by someone, typically an adolescent, that might predict increased suicide risk (example: self-harm) (1,4,5)

Adolescents 

Age group identified as being at-risk of suicide (ranging from 10 years old to 19)

Suicide 

Death caused by harm done to the self with the intent to die

Coping mechanisms 

The way an adolescent manages their suicidal behavior (the types of coping mechanisms include:

  1. Avoidant Coping: Changing behavior to escape dealing with distressful events 

    • Maladaptive Coping: Engaging in harmful health behaviors to escape dealing with suicidal behavior (example: Substance abuse) 

  2. Approach Coping: facing problems directly

Health-Related Quality of life 

An individual’s assessment of their health and mental well-being with regards to characteristics such as self-esteem and health behaviors (smoking, exercising...etc.)(5)

Prevention (Screening, Service Use)

Actions done with the hope of reducing suicidal behavior (suicide ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts). These actions could include intervention programs or spreading suicide awareness using social media messaging(3,5,8)

Socioeconomic status

A family’s position in society based on financial and sociological (social relations) access to resources(8,12)

Mediator effect

When the relationship between two variables under study is affected by a third variable(2)

Family characteristics

This term encompasses several aspects of a family including: family structure, highest educational level achieved by the parents, family conflicts, age difference between parents, age difference between mother and daughter, marital status of parents, parenting styles, family income (5,8,10)

Suicide Methods (firearms, hanging, intoxication, rail-way suicides)

The specific way a certain group of adolescents commit suicide(9)

Internet Use

The amount of time adolescents spend using the internet per day(12)

Health behavior 

Habits or actions that affect adolescent heath (example: substance use, smoking)(18)

Academic Stress

The stress adolescents go through in academia because of their own expectations and their parents and teachers’ expectations (2)

Substance use

The consumption of substances that are psychoactive (affecting the mind) in excessive amounts (Example: Alcohol consumption, drug overdoses/intoxication)(6,9)

Parenting Style

A parenting style is the method used by parents to help their children grow and learn

Different Parenting Styles include:

  1. Authoritarian Parenting

A parenting style characterized by too much control and not much affection 

  2. Authoritative Parenting 

A parenting style characterized by a high amount of control and affection

 3. Permissive Parenting 

A parenting style characterized by a high amount of affection and low amount of control 

 4. Rejecting-Neglecting Parenting 

A parenting style characterized by a low amount of affection and control(5)

Discussion Forums

A message board where people can make posts and begin conversations. The messages are often long and archived. Discussion Forums are often targeted at a certain topic (such as self-harm). They can be used to receive and give advice(16)

Peer Violence 

Committing acts of violence against adolescent peers(17)

Impulsivity

Acting or responding to an emotion in a manner that shows no previous comprehensive thought(3,6)

Reinforcement (encouragement)

Encouraging an adolescent to do a favorable behavior by praising them and expressing gratitude 

DSM-IV

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; a diagnostic tool used by psychiatrists and therapists to diagnose mental disorders(14)

Suicidal Behavior 

Suicidal behavior encompasses suicide ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts

Suicide plan: Planning to commit suicide

Suicide Ideation: Thinking about committing suicide 

Suicide attempts: making an effort to commit suicide by taking action(11,14,19)

References

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